The Debt We Owe First Responders

Dear Jazz,

I find it imperative, in light of the recent loss of one of our brave firefighters, to take a moment to acknowledge and applaud the selfless dedication of our first responders. These brave men and women, who serve as firefighters, police officers, EMTs, and paramedics, are the very backbone of our community's safety and well-being. They operate under the ethos of service, putting their lives on the line every day to ensure our security and peace of mind. The debt of gratitude we owe them is, quite frankly, unimaginable. They are our everyday heroes, walking amongst us, often unrecognized for the incredible burdens they bear on our behalf.

Consider for a moment the immense impact these individuals have on our daily lives. They are the first on the scene when disaster strikes, be it a fire, a medical emergency, or a threat to public safety. Their quick thinking, courage, and expertise often mean the difference between life and death. It's a high-stakes profession where seconds count, and the consequences of decisions can be life-altering. Their presence brings a sense of security that is fundamental to the functioning of our society. Without them, our city would undoubtedly face chaos and vulnerability, exposing our citizens to untold dangers and risks. The mere thought of a city without its first responders is a scenario too bleak to contemplate.

The work of a first responder does not end when the shift is over. The effects of their job often follow them home, impacting their personal lives and families. The stress and trauma experienced in the line of duty can have lasting effects, not just on the responders themselves but also on their loved ones. It's a shared sacrifice that families of first responders live with every day, a reality that we, as a community, must not overlook. It is a part of their service that remains largely invisible to the public eye, yet is an integral aspect of their heroism.

In light of their unwavering commitment to our community, it is our responsibility as a society and as a government to ensure that the families of first responders are well-protected and supported. This is not just a matter of moral obligation but a necessity for the continued functioning and resilience of our city. Legislation aimed at providing comprehensive support for these families is not just desirable; it is essential. The support and protection afforded to the families of first responders who are fatally injured in the line of duty should not be predicated on the amount of time served, but there should be a minimum compensation that is implemented across the board. Such laws would offer not just financial security but also access to mental health resources, educational opportunities, and other forms of support that acknowledge the unique challenges faced by these families.

As we reflect on the valor and dedication of our first responders, let us commit to more than just words of gratitude. Let us take concrete actions to demonstrate our appreciation and recognition of their sacrifices. This includes advocating for and implementing policies that safeguard their well-being and that of their families. Their heroism deserves nothing less than our unwavering support and commitment. Let us ensure that our first responders and their loved ones know that their city stands with them, not just in times of crisis but every single day.

#LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield

Creating One Plainfield. One Future.

Sincerely,

Mayor Adrian O. Mapp

City of Plainfield

La Deuda que Tenemos Con Los Socorristas

Querido(a) Jazz,

Considero imperativo, a la luz de la reciente pérdida de uno de nuestros valientes bomberos, tomarnos un momento para reconocer y aplaudir la dedicación desinteresada de nuestros socorristas. Estos valientes hombres y mujeres, que sirven como bomberos, policías, técnicos de emergencias médicas y paramédicos, son la columna vertebral de la seguridad y el bienestar de nuestra comunidad. Operan bajo el espíritu de servicio, arriesgando sus vidas todos los días para garantizar nuestra seguridad y tranquilidad. La deuda de gratitud que tenemos con ellos es, francamente, inimaginable. Son nuestros héroes cotidianos, que caminan entre nosotros, a menudo sin ser reconocidos por las increíbles cargas que soportan por nosotros.

Consideremos por un momento el inmenso impacto que estos individuos tienen en nuestra vida diaria. Son los primeros en llegar al lugar cuando ocurre un desastre, ya sea un incendio, una emergencia médica o una amenaza a la seguridad pública. Su rapidez de pensamiento, coraje y experiencia a menudo significan la diferencia entre la vida y la muerte. Es una profesión de alto riesgo donde los segundos cuentan y las consecuencias de las decisiones pueden cambiar la vida. Su presencia aporta una sensación de seguridad que es fundamental para el funcionamiento de nuestra sociedad. Sin ellos, nuestra ciudad sin duda enfrentaría caos y vulnerabilidad, exponiendo a nuestros ciudadanos a peligros y riesgos incalculables. La mera idea de una ciudad sin sus socorristas es un escenario demasiado sombrío para contemplarlo.

El trabajo de un socorrista no termina cuando termina el turno. Los efectos de su trabajo a menudo los siguen a casa, impactando sus vidas personales y familiares. El estrés y el trauma experimentados en el cumplimiento del deber pueden tener efectos duraderos, no sólo en los propios socorristas sino también en sus seres queridos. Es un sacrificio compartido con el que viven las familias de los socorristas todos los días, una realidad que nosotros, como comunidad, no debemos pasar por alto. Es una parte de su servicio que permanece en gran medida invisible al ojo público, pero que sin embargo es un aspecto integral de su heroísmo.

A la luz de su compromiso inquebrantable con nuestra comunidad, es nuestra responsabilidad como sociedad y como gobierno garantizar que las familias de los socorristas estén bien protegidas y apoyadas. Esto no es sólo una cuestión de obligación moral sino una necesidad para el funcionamiento continuo y la resiliencia de nuestra ciudad. Una legislación destinada a brindar apoyo integral a estas familias no sólo es deseable; es esencial. El apoyo y la protección brindados a las familias de los socorristas que resultan heridos fatalmente en el cumplimiento del deber no deben depender de la cantidad de tiempo cumplido, sino que debe haber una compensación mínima que se implemente en todos los ámbitos. Dichas leyes ofrecerían no sólo seguridad financiera sino también acceso a recursos de salud mental, oportunidades educativas y otras formas de apoyo que reconozcan los desafíos únicos que enfrentan estas familias.

Mientras reflexionamos sobre el valor y la dedicación de nuestros socorristas, comprometámonos a decir algo más que simples palabras de gratitud. Tomemos medidas concretas para demostrar nuestro aprecio y reconocimiento de sus sacrificios. Esto incluye defender e implementar políticas que salvaguarden su bienestar y el de sus familias. Su heroísmo merece nada menos que nuestro apoyo y compromiso inquebrantables. Asegurémonos de que nuestros socorristas y sus seres queridos sepan que su ciudad los apoya, no solo en tiempos de crisis sino todos los días.

#LovePlainfield #AmoPlainfield

Creando Un Plainfield. Un Futuro.

Alcalde Adrian O. Mapp

Ciudad de Plainfield

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Union County’s Healthcare Job Fair on February 21st Connects Professionals With Promising Opportunities

The Union County Board of County Commissioners, in partnership with the American Job Center, invite all healthcare professionals seeking new career opportunities to the Healthcare Job Fair on Wednesday, February 21 at Warinanco Sports Center.

“We are not just offering jobs, we are creating pathways for individuals to contribute meaningfully to the well-being of our communities,” said Commissioner Chairwoman Kimberly Palmieri-Mouded. “This event not only provides a platform for healthcare professionals to explore career opportunities, but also reflects our commitment to encouraging growth and innovation within the healthcare industry.”

The Healthcare Job Fair is scheduled for Wednesday, February 21, 2024, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Warinanco Sports Center, located at 1 Park Drive in Roselle. The fair will feature a range of roles, including job opportunities for Registered Nurses, Licensed Practical Nurses, Certified Medical Assistants, Certified Medication Aides, Certified Nursing Assistants, and Emergency Medical Technicians. Representatives from CareFinders, Hudson Milestone, Lantern Hill Senior Living Community, RWJ Barnabas Health, Visionworks, and Assisting Hands of New Jersey will be present.

In a commitment to making the recruitment process effective and accessible, the event will provide on-the-spot interviews. Applicants are asked to bring a copy of their resume, as they will have the chance to participate directly with representatives from each organization in person.

“Given the staggering 1.8 million job openings in the healthcare industry each year, it’s crucial to link skilled professionals with job opportunities,” said Commissioner Sergio Granados, Liaison to the Workforce Development Board. “The Healthcare Job Fair serves as a bridge between employers and our local workforce. By addressing the healthcare sector’s needs, we strengthen our industry, grow job opportunities, and make our community stronger.”

Registration is required on www.ucnj.org/dhs/job-fairs /. For employers who wish to participate in the Healthcare Job Fair, please call Carolina Marin at 908-527-4373 or email ajcbusinessteam@ucnj.org.

Governor Murphy, AG Platkin Announce New Jersey Has Filed SCOTUS Brief to Protect Access to Reproductive Medications

01/31/2024

TRENTON – Governor Phil Murphy and Attorney General Matthew J. Platkin today announced that New Jersey joined the amicus brief, led by the State of New York, in support of the FDA and Danco Laboratories in the U.S. Supreme Court case of Food and Drug Administration, et al., v. Alliance for Hippocratic Medicine, which threatens to restrict or eliminate access to reproductive medications, like mifepristone, that have been the standard of care for most abortions and miscarriage management.

“I want to thank Attorney General Matt Platkin and his office for leading the charge with our New York neighbors against the activists who want to control what should be a deeply personal, individual decision,” said Governor Murphy. “My administration has worked tirelessly to ensure that New Jersey remains a bastion for the fundamental right to make one’s own reproductive choices. This includes protecting access to medications, like mifepristone, which have proven to be a safe and effective, medically-tested reproductive option for years."

“Going backwards in time and limiting access to medication abortion is contrary to evidence-based healthcare,” said Attorney General Platkin. “I, and other attorneys general across the nation, urge the Supreme Court to reject this baseless attack on reproductive care. And I thank Governor Murphy for his leadership on this issue, so that reproductive decisions can be made where they belong: between patients and doctors.”

The Murphy Administration has been at the forefront of the fight to protect reproductive rights and expand access to reproductive health care. For example, the Board of Medical Examiners and Board of Pharmacy are finalizing procedures to remove barriers to a number of crucial family planning tools to make them even more accessible at pharmacies. An overview of recent administration actions can be found here.

New Jersey has also joined several other amicus briefs in this litigation already. In 2022, New Jersey signed on to an amicus brief opposing plaintiffs’ motion for a preliminary injunction to enjoin FDA approval of mifepristone for medication abortion (# 22-171). Last year, New Jersey signed on to amicus briefs supporting the federal government’s application for an emergency stay in the Fifth Circuit and supporting the federal government’s request for emergency relief in the U.S. Supreme Court (# 23-057), and signed on to an amicus brief supporting the FDA and Danco in their Fifth Circuit appeal of the district court’s decision (# 23-070), as well as their petition for cert to the Supreme Court (# 23-283).

Yesterday, the Reproductive Freedom Alliance – which is comprised of Governor Murphy and 21 other governors – filed a separate amicus curiae brief with the U.S. Supreme Court in the same case, arguing that if the court allows a recent Fifth Circuit decision to stand, it could undermine the ability of governors to provide adequate healthcare services and would have far-reaching implications beyond reproductive healthcare. Additional details on the Reproductive Freedom Alliance filing can be found here.

“I’m proud of the Reproductive Freedom Alliance for spearheading a broader, nationwide effort to protect this fundamental personal liberty,” added Governor Murphy. “Reproductive rights, without access, mean nothing. No matter what steps other states and entities may take to try and restrict access to reproductive health care, New Jersey will never stop fighting to defend these freedoms.”

President Biden Takes On Big Pharma and Is Lowering Prescription Drug Prices

01/25/2024

Washington, D.C - After decades of opposition, President Biden enacted a law that finally takes on Big Pharma and gives Medicare the power to negotiate drug prices. President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act will save millions of seniors money on some of the costliest prescription drugs on the market –and today, Medicare will send initial offers to manufacturers of the first ten drugs selected for drug price negotiation to help bring down the price of these prescription drugs. This is the first time ever that Medicare is not accepting the drug prices the pharmaceutical companies set.

The drug price negotiation program is a prime example of the ways the Administration is working to lower costs for American families. In 2022, nine million seniors on Medicare were prescribed the ten drugs selected for the first round of drug price negotiation. These individuals spent an estimated $3.4 billion in out-of-pocket costs in 2022 alone for these drugs, which are used to treat some of the most common conditions like blood clots, arthritis, diabetes, cancer, heart disease, and more. Some seniors spent nearly $6,500 out-of-pocket for a single one of these drugs – while Big Pharma continued to make record profits, ripping off American taxpayers and the seniors their drugs aim to treat.

New report highlights Big Pharma price gouging

A new report released today shows that in 2022, Big Pharma charged Americans two to three times more than what they charged people in other OECD countries for the same drugs, even when accounting for rebates and discounts. As one example, U.S. gross prices for insulin – a drug that has been around for 100 years and costs drug companies just $10 a vial to make – were on average almost ten times the price in the United States than in comparison countries.

This comes as large drug companies spent nearly $750 billion on self-enriching stock buybacks and dividends over the last decade. Big Pharma also executed over $135 billion in mergers and acquisitions in 2023 alone, while passing the cost to consumers. Six of ten of the drugs selected for this year’s negotiation program raised their prices in the first month of 2024 – after all ten drugs were already priced three to eight times higher in the United States than in other countries.

President Biden’s drug price negotiation program finally takes on Big Pharma’s exorbitant price gouging of seniors, allowing Medicare to put money back in the pockets of American families. By negotiating lower prices for these drugs – and dozens more in the years that follow – the Biden Administration is creating a new and better deal for patients.

Drug price negotiation could have a significant impact on seniors

Until the Inflation Reduction Act, Medicare was prohibited from directly negotiating prescription drug prices to get the best deal for seniors, even as other government agencies that provide health services actively negotiate lower drug prices. The Veterans Health Administration, Department of Defense, and Medicaid all have the power to negotiate drug prices, and they pay less than Medicare, on average, for top-selling brand-name drugs. In 2017, the Government Accountability Office found that the VA paid on average 49 percent less per unit for the same brand-name drugs offered through the VA health system than Medicare Part D paid.

Big Pharma and House Republicans continue to attack popular drug price negotiation program

Americans from all backgrounds and ages overwhelmingly support Medicare being able to negotiate lower drug prices for seniors, with eight in ten adults in favor of the federal government negotiating drug prices.

At the same time, Big Pharma is litigating nine lawsuits against Medicare Drug Price Negotiation. They’re hoping the courts will do what they could not get done in Congress: block Medicare from negotiating lower prices for seniors and families. And House Republicans are all too eager to come to drug companies’ defense. House Republicans have pledged to eliminate the Inflation Reduction Act, have vowed to cut Medicare and Social Security benefits, are trying to kick millions of Americans off affordable health care and keep drug prices high for seniors and American families.

President Biden won’t stand for that. He is laser-focused on lowering costs, protecting Medicare and Social Security, and making sure his Inflation Reduction Act gives more seniors, people with disabilities, and families more breathing room.

Later this year, new, negotiated prices for the first ten prescription drugs selected for the negotiation program are scheduled to be announced. Over the next four years, Medicare will select up to 60 drugs for negotiation – and up to 20 additional drugs per year after that.

Beyond that, millions of seniors with diabetes are already benefitting from the $35 cap for a month’s supply of insulin under the President’s Inflation Reduction Act. Fifteen million Americans are saving $800 per year on health insurance premiums. And seniors that took the 47 drugs covered by Medicare Part B that hiked prices faster than inflation in 2023 had lower coinsurance, with some enrollees saving as much as $618 per dose.

No matter how many times House Republicans try to repeal the Inflation Reduction Act, President Biden knows how it is delivering for American families, and his Administration will continue the fight to lower health care costs for more Americans.